A world to savor

Ethnic Grocery Guide

If you have an adventurous palate, Central Florida is the place to be.

When shoppers step through the doors of ethnic grocery stores, they are pleasantly overwhelmed by the fragrant spices, the chatter of foreign dialects and shelves stocked with labels written in unfamiliar languages.

Foodies are drawn in by a symphony of scents. Ground cinnamon mingles with ginger, nutmeg, peppercorns, cloves, fennel seeds and star anise.

These shops are examples of the vibrancy of Central Florida's grocery-shopping scene. Indian, Moroccan, Russian, German, Latin, Italian and British markets now are thriving along with Asian stores and others.

The annual Ethnic Grocery Guide, first published in 1995, grew out of comments from readerswho missed the ethnic enclaves they were used to in South Florida, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and other locales. As more newcomers moved into Central Florida, we discovered a fascinating patchwork of diverse foods coming to the table.

Central Florida has plenty to offer creative cooks. There's no need for a trip to Ybor City or Miami to find Cuban goods. Puerto Rican specialties? You've come to the right place. Indian spices and fabulous curries? They are likely in a store near you.

Central Florida's pantry has swelled with a wealth of ingredients most newcomers never would expect to find in the heart of the state. We have the world on our plate and we are a better place for it.

We celebrate our unique smorgasbord with the publication of the 18th Ethnic Grocery Guide, which is available all year at OrlandoSentinel.com. Grab a seat, there's plenty of room for everyone.